Safer football helmet

ABSTRACT

A safer football helmet including a soft shell not covering an underlying rigid shell, and thereby tending to minimize otherwise-injurious radial forces acting upon the head on contact. Preferably, the soft shell is a fabric-covered, padded material. The soft shell includes a portion that extends substantially over the forehead, and also includes opposing portions lapping over the jaw area to edges of the mouth.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a safer football helmet.

A concussion is a complex pathophysiological process affecting the brain, induced by traumatic biomechanical forces secondary to direct or indirect forces to the head. Disturbance of brain function is related to neuro-metabolic dysfunction, rather than structural brain injury which is typically associated with normal structural imaging finding using a CT scan or MRI. The seriousness and lasting impact of a concussion, and especially a number of concussions, continues to be studied.

During physical activities such as football, concussions can occur with any type of external force to the head. These events can cause the brain to accelerate and decelerate with translational, rotational and/or angular forces. Brain injuries can result on the side of the force, or on the opposite side of the force. Researchers believe that such external forces produce a wave of energy that passes through the brain tissue, triggering neuronal dysfunction. This involves a complex cascade of ionic, metabolic and physiologic events, sometimes called the neuro-metabolic cascade of events of concussion. This cascade, as well as microscopic axonal dysfunction, cause concussion symptoms. In most cases, this process is thought to correct itself and the majority of patients are believed to fully recover. However, while the brain is still recovering, the reduction of cerebral blood flow may result in brain cell dysfunction that increases the vulnerability of the cells to second insult. Additionally, during injury, the neuron exchanges potassium ions for calcium ions, which are toxic and can lead to metabolic dysfunction.

The typical football helmet has a hard outer shell of polycarbonate, and inner cushioning adjacent the head. Upon contact, this distributes shear forces radially about the head, as shown in FIG. 1, as well as linear forces due to inertial movement of the brain relative to the skull. The force F applied to the helmet is calculated by applying Newton's Second Law of Motion for two moving bodies in contact, and is proportional to the mass multiplied by the change in velocity (before and after contact). Forces acting on a hard-shell helmet involve plate tectonics where the force is resisted by opposing shears in the helmet shell. These opposing shears can rip or crack the helmet shell if the shear resistance properties of the shell are inadequate. The oval shape of the helmet causes these shears to take a radial path around the shell. To facilitate the analysis, the force F is converted to its equivalent orthogonal components Fx and Fy. The Fx component causes radial forces fx in the helmet shell which act downwardly on the left side of the impact point and upwardly on the right side of the impact point. The Fy component causes shear forces fy in the helmet shell which become radial due to the oval shape of the helmet, and acts downwardly on both sides of the impact point. The fy radial forces add to the fx forces on the left side and negate the fx forces on the right side. The fx and fy radial forces are the resultants of actual tapered distributed perimeter forces in the shell.

The imbalance of forces on each side of the helmet shell have a rotational or head-twisting effect which is one of the causes of concussions and other brain-related injuries. The amount of twisting that is transferred from the helmet shell to the player's head is dependent on the friction between the head and the padding under the shell. The recommended tight-fitting helmets which minimize slippage will via friction absorb and transfer almost all of these radial forces to the head.

Simultaneous with the above radial/twisting effects on the head, linear inertial movement of the brain relative to the skull also occurs, and this results in deceleration on impact. These forces together define and result in the force F. Inertial movement of the brain can be problematic, as inertial movement of the brain in line with the force F can cause the brain, which is encased in a liquid, to bounce off the inside of the skull, potentially causing contusions to the brain. Often even more problematic, however, is rotational/twisting effects on the head, which can generate high shearing forces resulting in severe concussions. These forces are discussed and detailed in Concussion Definition And Pathophysiology, The Evolving Definition Of Concussion, CDC Physicians Toolkit, Collins, Gioia et al (2006).

For a loose-fitting helmet with enough vertical component Fy, the upper helmet padding will push downward on the head. Some of the energy of the hit will be absorbed by the compression of properly designed padding (grid-patterned with an allowance for lateral expansion), but there can still be enough unabsorbed energy to shake the brain and cause injury.

For a normal tight-fitting hard shell helmet, as the applied force, F, moves downward to the side of the helmet, the Fx component increases and the Fy component decreases. The net effect is increased helmet shaking. When a hit to the side of the helmet comes from an opposing player's helmet or shoulder pad, there is often a severe lateral shock displacement of the helmet and head. This can cause the brain to bounce side-to-side in the skull, which in addition to head twisting, can result in some of the worst head injuries.

Lateral hits to extended facemasks are often more problematic than pure helmet contact. The facemask extension can act as a lever arm which causes additional torsional (twisting) forces on the helmet.

Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide a safer football helmet as described below.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The objects mentioned above, as well as other objects, are solved by the present invention, which overcomes disadvantages of prior football helmets, while providing new advantages not previously associated with such helmets.

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description, so that the claimed invention may be better understood. However, this summary is not intended to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.

In a preferred embodiment, a safer football helmet is provided which has a soft, padded outer portion or shell which eliminates radial forces to the head upon contact. The helmet extends substantially over the forehead, and also includes opposing portions lapping over the jaw area to edges of the mouth. The soft outer shell preferably includes a durable color-fast fabric and grid-shaped padding. The preferred helmet will also include a Velcro clasp for placement and removal, and for protection to the mouth area.

In a preferred embodiment, the soft outer shell include a fabric-covered outer portion covering a foam rubber padding. In addition to or in substitution for foam rubber, the following may be used: rebound foam; closed-cell foam; neoprene foam; viscoelastic polymer gel; memory foam. In other embodiments, the soft shell need not be fabric-covered.

The preferred helmet of the present invention will, for practical purposes, substantially eliminate rotational twisting while also significantly reducing inertial movement of the brain relative to the skull, due to the padding which absorbs much of the force.

Another significant benefit of the helmet of the present invention, other than the substantial reduction in head trauma, is the lessening of injuries to the bodies and limbs of opposing players caused by the helmets and facemasks currently in use.

Definition of Claim Terms

The terms used in the claims of the patent are intended to have their broadest meaning consistent with the requirements of law. Where alternative meanings are possible, the broadest meaning is intended. All words used in the claims are intended to be used in the normal, customary usage of grammar and the English language.

“Face mask” means the part of a conventional helmet which extends from and directly covers the face, and which is typically made of metal and covered either with a rubber or plastic coating.

“Hard shell” refers to materials, such as polycarbonates, which have hardness properties equivalent to steel and which do not allow applied forces to penetrate the surface, but rather create shear forces along the plate that become radial due to the oval shape of the helmet. The energy of these radial forces in hard shell helmets are normally transferred through the action of friction between the helmet padding and the player's skull. These friction forces are the cause of a twisting action of the head which can cause significant brain trauma.

“Soft shell” refers to helmets in which applied forces, whether from an opposing helmet or shoulder pad, remain substantially linear after contact and allow the underlying padding to absorb much or nearly all of the energy of these applied forces.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features which are characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, together with further objects and attendant advantages thereof, can be better understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1A is a front perspective view of a prior art conventional hard-shell helmet, showing inner padding adjacent the head (not including the face mask), and distributed forces during impact;

FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view of the helmet shown in FIG. 1A;

FIGS. 2A-2B are front and side perspective view of a preferred, safer football helmet of the present invention;

FIG. 2C is a front and side perspective view of the safer football helmet shown in FIGS. 2A-2B; and

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the preferred, safer football helmet shown in FIG. 2, showing distributed forces before and after contact.

The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present invention. In the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Set forth below is a description of what are believed to be the preferred embodiments and/or best examples of the invention claimed. Future and present alternatives and modifications to this preferred embodiment are contemplated. Any alternatives or modifications which make insubstantial changes in function, in purpose, in structure, or in result are intended to be covered by the claims of this patent.

Referring to FIGS. 2A-2C, a preferred embodiment of a safer football helmet, generally designated by reference numeral 10, is shown. In general, this helmet has a soft outer shell with underlying grid-shaped padding which better protects the cheek bones and forehead than conventional football helmets.

In a preferred embodiment, soft shell 20 may consist of fabric-covered, grid-shaped padding with facial protection provided by extending a portion of the padded surface 20 a over the forehead and down to the brow line. Additional facial protection is preferably provided by lapping opposing portions of the padded surface 20 b over the jaw area and under the nose to the edge of the mouth. Still further additional facial protection may be provided by utilizing a Velcro clasp 30 over the mouth (FIG. 2C).

The preferred, grid-shaped padding may include an array of flat-topped, pyramid-shaped foam rubber. This configuration allows the padding to depress and expand laterally on contact, thereby facilitating energy absorption. (A mat-type padding, for example, is not preferred as it is relatively poor in energy absorption because it simply “dents” on contact.) Foam padding may also be used, such as rebound foam, closed-cell foam, neoprene foam, viscoelastic polymer gel, memory foam, or other types of energy-absorbing foam. For this purpose, U.S. Pat. No. 9,314,061 is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.

Referring to FIG. 2C, outer surface 20 of the padding preferably has a low coefficient of friction, such as a fabric with a high sheen (so that opposing helmets tend to slide off of each other), and which is color-fast and durable.

Preferably, the helmet has a portion 20 a that substantially covers the forehead, as well as tapering opposing ends 20 b which lap over the jaw area to the edges of the mouth.

Ventilation holes 26 may be provided as shown, or in alternative numbers and locations as desired.

With the helmet shown in FIGS. 2A-C, there is some vulnerability to contact at the nose, depending how far it projects from the padded surface. This small vulnerability will likely offer some discouragement to players from aiming their heads at a contact area.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a force analysis is shown for the safer football helmet of FIG. 2. While almost all injurious contact forces with hard outer shell helmets will be of a linear type, these same forces on the soft-shell helmet of FIGS. 2A-C will be distributed or spread due to the outer padded surface. To simulate the force distribution, a worst-case scenario has been chosen for possible concussive hits, i.e., direct contact from a hard-surfaced shoulder pad. For this case, the force of the contact, as defined by Newton's Second Law, which measures the changes in velocity and the masses of the bodies in contact, is at or close to a maximum.

Referring to FIG. 3, the distributed forces F_(D) on the helmet from a helmet or shoulder pad hit, as shown, will begin to lessen after first contact, and continue to lessen upon more contact with the surface of the helmet due to the energy absorption of the helmet padding. The net forces F_(N) acting on the player's head are shown to be significantly reduced after completion of contact and energy absorption in the helmet padding.

In extreme cases of velocity change due to these net forces, there will be no radial forces but there can be sufficient brain movement to cause a concussive injury as the brain bounces off the inside of the skull. This is one of the two types of concussions as previously described by the CDC (Center for Disease Control) as “deceleration injury.”

The second and only other type of concussive head injury described by the CDC is caused by rotational or twisting forces on the skull. This is an event that can only occur with hard shell helmets, which cause these twisting or radial forces on contact. The impact forces on hard shell helmets, which have been offered by the dominant suppliers these past many years, do not penetrate the hard shell, and thereby render the underlying padding to be ineffectual. The padding for these helmets is essentially a medium for friction forces between the head and the helmet, which cause the radial forces to twist the head.

With the safer football helmet of FIGS. 2A-C, there are no measurable radial forces on impact. (With conventional helmets, radial forces develop on contact with the hard oval-shaped plates that are typically used; these plates develop resisting shears to the applied forces per plate tectonics, which resisting shears become radial due to the oval shape of the helmet.) Thus, the linear forces exerted on the soft outer padding of the safer football helmet of the present invention remain substantially linear on contact (see FIG. 3) and allow the padding to effectively absorb much of the energy from the impact. Of the two types of concussion injuries as defined by the CDC, only the one caused by deceleration is possible with the safer football helmet, and the likelihood of injury is much less than with hard outer shell helmets.

It is also consequential that the safer football helmet of the present invention does not employ a conventional face mask. Face masks allow tremendous shear forces to be exerted on the head, torqueing the head on impact. A face mask can cause extreme radial twisting forces on the head due to the torque on the helmet extension.

The above description is not intended to limit the meaning of the words used in the following claims that define the invention. Persons of ordinary skill in the art will understand that a variety of other designs still falling within the scope of the following claims may be envisioned and used. It is contemplated that these additional examples, as well as future modifications in structure, function, or result to that disclosed here, will exist that are not substantial changes to what is claimed here, and that all such insubstantial changes in what is claimed are intended to be covered by the claims. 

I claim:
 1. A safer football helmet, comprising: a soft shell including foam padding not covering an underlying hard shell, the soft shell thereby tending to minimize otherwise-injurious radial forces acting upon the head on contact, wherein the soft shell includes a portion providing extended facial protection that does not include a face mask.
 2. The safer football helmet of claim 1, wherein the facial protection of the soft shell extends substantially over the forehead, and also includes opposing portions lapping over the jaw area to edges of the mouth.
 3. The safer football helmet of claim 1, wherein the foam padding of the soft shell is fabric-covered.
 4. The safer football helmet of claim 3, wherein the foam padding comprises a grid-shaped pattern.
 5. The safer football helmet of claim 3, wherein the foam padding comprises foam rubber.
 6. The safer football helmet of claim 1, wherein the foam padding comprises one or more of the following: rebound foam; closed-cell foam; neoprene foam; viscoelastic polymer gel; memory foam.
 7. The safer football helmet of claim 2, further comprising a Velcro clasp for protection of the mouth area. 